Colloid-treated fabric and method of producing the same



S. P- LOVELL.

COLLOID TREATED FABRiC AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME. APPLICATIONFILED JAN. 16. 1920.

1,353,599. PatentedSept. 21, 1920.

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STANLEY P. LOVELL, OF BBOCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COLLOID-TREATED FABRIC AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE sum.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 21, 1920.

Application filed January 16, 1920. Serial No. 351,913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STANLEY P. LovELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at 276 \Vest Elm street, Brockton, in the county of Plymouthand State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Colloid-Treated Fabrics and Methods of Producing theSame, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is a new treated fabric, having a villous pile in whichcolloidal substances are deposited by precipitation in a porous form andretained therein by the engagement of the colloidal substance with thepile and the fabric, the fibers of the pile forming capillary spaces orpassages from the outer surface of the colloidal substance to theinterior thereof. This new fabric may be of woven material, such forexample, as cloth, or of structureless material, such for example, asfelt, the use to which it is to be put governing the selection of fabricmaterial. The colloidal substance, is, for example, nitro-cellulose,casein, various gums such as manila, copal, kawri, sandarac, resin orrosin. My invention also includes the method of producing the newfabric.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of an arrangement of meanssuitable for treating my new fabric;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a portion of fabric.after impregnation;

Fig. 3 is a similar view after the opening of the pile; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view after final smoothing of the free ends of thefibers of the pile.

The fabric as it comes from the maker before treatment has a distinctpile, which is usually laid in parallelism along the length of the pieceof material, that is to say, each fiber of which the pile is made up islaid in the direction of the surface of the fabric, parallel withneighboring fibers and with the sides of the fabric piece.

Taking a sheet of the material, M, to be treated, it is passed into adipping tank, A, containing the colloid solution, a, which is to be used(for example. some of the substances mentioned ahove) the colloidalsubstance being insoluble in pure water and diffused or dissolved in amedium suitable to its nature. such for example, as alcohol, other.ammonia solution. etc. To persons skilled in this art the suitablemedium for the particular solid which is to be used will withdrawn fromthe tank,- passing scrapers,

a. or other means suitable to remove surplus colloid solution, and overan actuated roller, R, which lifts the material from the dipping tank,A, and passes the material to an opening mechanism, preferably a roller,B, the surface of which, in contact with the material, levolves in adirection against the lay of the pile (see Fig. 2), lifting the fibersto an open position substantially perpendicular to the surface of thebod of the fabric (see Fig. 3), and increasing t e space between thefibers of the ile. As a rule, the contacting surface of t e openingroller will move in the direction of motion of the sheet of material, M,but at a surface speed greater than that of the sheet of material. It isdeemed unnecessary, in the diagram, to show means for actuating theroller, R, and the opening rolls, B.

After being operated upon by the opening rolls. the colloidal materialdoes not completely fill the interstices of the fibers of the pile, andis thereupon passed to a precipitating bath in tank, T. in which thematerial remains until displacement of the solvent liquid is practicallycompleted by water or other precipitating agent, suitable to theparticular solid employed. To a person skilled in thisart the suitablemedium for the articular solid which is to be precipitate( will be knownor readily ascertainable from published works of authority. Thecolloidal substance is thus precipitated among the fibers of the pile.The time within which this result is accomplished varies with the natureof the solid employed and with the substance of the fabric and thecompletion of this step may be ascertained by simple manipulative tests;squeezing the material, if the displacement of solvent is not complete,will bring to the surface particles or drops of colloidal solution,easily identified by its gelatinous character. The

. tank. T. is provided with an inlet, t, for the water or otherprecipitant, and with an adjustable outlet. f. by means of which t eprecipitant may be renewed or dischar e and its depth in tank. T.regulated. The material is now withdrawn from the precipitating bath anddried and the solid will be found precipitated among the fibers of thepile and entangled and interlocked w ththe bers thereof. Ifdesired, thematerial,

as it passes from the bath may be passed by and in contact withsmoothing means, as shown, a pair of rollers, S, which will smooth downin one direction any projectingends of the perpendicular fibers, givinga smooth finish to the surface and further in'closing and binding theporous precipitate. p

This new fabric, thus treated, forms a substantially thickened compositematerial, which is advantageoiis for different uses, as for'example, themaking oftbox toe blanks, used in the manufacture of boots and shoes,and the making of scabbards, and other military equipment, and separatorplates, used in the making of electric storage batteries, and for manyother uses in the arts.

The new material, when it is to be molded to a particular shape, forexample, in the .shoe industry, as a substitute for leather, in

stifl'enin certain parts of boots and shoes, is di pe in a suitablesolvent, and notwithstan ing its thickness, owing to the porosity of theprecipitate and the capillary spaces formed by thevillous ile, leadingfrom the surface of the colloidal precipitate to the interior thereof,the solvent will instantly penetrate the porous material, which isthereupon resolved into a flaccid bod ,which a may be instantlyconformed and wi 1 dry in the desired shape, stifl', flexible, andresilient, as the solvent is withdrawn by evaporation.

This-quickness of softening action is a distinctive feature and theeffect of the villous pile in maintaining the integrity and connectionof the fabric and its porous colloidal load is also of great advantage.

1. As a new article of manufacture, a villous pile fabric, with porouscolloidal material, insoluble in Water, among and between the fibers ofthe pile.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a villous pile fabric with porouscolloidal precipitate, insoluble in water, precipitated among andbetween the fibers of the pile.

3. s in claim two, the free and projecting ends of the fibers being laidalong the surface of the colloidal precipitate.

4. As in claim two, the fibers forming capillary spaces leading to theinterior of the colloidal precipitate.

5. The method which consists in impregnating a sheet of villous pilefabric with colloidal material, insoluble in water, in diffusion orsolution, passing the fabric to a pile opening mechanism, and thence toa preci itating bath; immersing the fabric, therein'until theprecipitant dis laces the solvent, precipitating the colloida materialamon and between the fibers of the pile.

6. s in claim five, then passing the fabric to a contact with asmoothing means, to lay the free ends of the fibers on the precipitate.

Signed at Boston, Massachusetts, this thirteenth day of J anuary, 1920.

STANLEY P. LOVELL.

IDISCLAIMER 1,353,599.-'Sta1ieg P, Lovell, Brockton, Mesa,COLLOIlD-TBEATED Fannie 4N0 'METBOD or Pnonucnm 'lm Sum. Patent detedSeptember-21,1920; Disclaimer filed March 21, l934 ,'by the asaignee,Oelastiz; Hereby enters disclaimer to the subject matter of the claimantsaid patent fil -353,599, except where a. villous pile fabric is used,with poroue polloidal murmamo and between the fibers of the pile and insuch stet'e of SllbdlV'lfliOll and porosity that e resulting productii'cepeble of being made flaccid substantially instantineoual by the useof one propriate solvent, and in that condition is capable of ealreti'shape and become stiff, flexible, and resilient in its newbeing ormedinto a. for n upoi viglorizatxon of the solvent.

101mm zette April 10, 1.934.]

